NIU to have 7 home football games in 2015

After only five home games this season and five in 2014, the Northern Illinois football team will have an expanded home slate in 2015.

The Huskies’ 2015 nonconference schedule, which was released Wednesday, features three home games, meaning NIU will have seven games at Huskie Stadium in 2015.

NIU will play host to UNLV (Sept. 5), Murray State (Sept. 12) and Wyoming (Sept. 26). The Huskies’ lone nonconference road contest comes Sept. 19 at Ohio State. The Huskies last met the Buckeyes in 2006, when Garrett Wolfe ran for 171 yards in a 31-12 loss. Ohio State went unbeaten that season before losing to Florida in the BCS Championship Game.

“The 2015 schedule closely reflects the model we are striving for in our scheduling philosophy.” NIU athletic director Sean Frazier said in a news release. “We want to play a minimum of six home games in Huskie Stadium with a seventh being played in the Chicagoland area. Under the new College Football Playoff, we’re going to be measured by strength of schedule and common opponents will be weighed heavily. Games against teams like UNLV and Wyoming will help us in this area.”